Taiwan to build first submarine amid tensions with China

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Tuesday, (21 March) launched the Island nation's first submarine programme to counter an escalating military threat from China.

"Strengthening underwater combat capabilities is most needed in Taiwan's defense," Tsai said while touring a submarine at the southern naval port of Zuoying, which is located about 350km from the capital Taipei.

"I want to tell you all that the Taiwanese always face challenges bravely and overcome them," she said at a formal signing ceremony to start off the project. The submarine will be built by a joint venture between the navy, a ship building corporation and National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology.

"Making a submarine isn't the problem. It is making what kind of submarine that is the problem," Gao Chung-hsing, Vice President of the Institute said.

At present, Taiwanese navy has four submarines that were purchased abroad and only two of them can be operated during war time. The other two built by the US in the 1940s are too old and can be used only for training.

The United States is Taipei's main supplier of arms and its most powerful ally. The island nation launched the project after spending years in waiting for US models. In 2001, an offer approved by George W Bush to supply eight submarines to Taiwan has been stalled.